UWCL Semifinal Player Rating: Asisat Oshoala vs Chelsea

UWCL Semifinal Player Rating: Asisat Oshoala vs Chelsea

By Gbenga Gboyega 

Bsnsports.com.ng analyses Asisat Oshoala's 66 minutes of game time for Spain's FC Barça Feminí over two legs in the 2022-23 UEFA Women Champions League semifinal clash against England's Chelsea Women, with the Spanish side going through to the final. 

Futbol Club Barcelona Feminí leapfrogged Chelsea Women following a 2-1 aggregate scoreline, making it twice in three years that Asisat Oshoala's side have reached the final on the Continent, following their feat in 2020-21.

2021 was the first time Barcelona Feminí had won UEFA's prestigious title, consequently making Asisat the first ever female Nigerian player to achieve the feat, with another opportunity to make it two UWCLs if they beat either Arsenal Women or Wolfsburg Women from the other center.

The first leg of the Semis went down in London, where Asisat came on as a substitute in the 84th minute to replace Caroline Graham Hansen who had given Barça the lead as early as the 4th minute, with the scoreline staying at 1-0 going into the second leg.

Six minutes plus added on time wasn't enough for the Super Falcon to register any shot, assist, or goal, but her presence was felt in Chelsea's defense for the time being till the blast of the whistle.

In Spain, the reverse fixture saw Asisat feature in the starting eleven, going on to register 2 shots in an hour of game time, before getting replaced by Salma Paralluelo for the remaining half-hour.

First leg goal scorer, Caroline Hansen gave Barça Feminí the lead yet again, this time in the second half, off an assist by Aimat Bonmati, just three minutes after Asisat was substituted.

Over an hour of football, with no goal nor assist, doesn't paint the full picture of Asisat's performance on the pitch of play, however her constant threat, pace, and distractive element to open spaces for her teammates earns her a 6.5 as rated by bsnsports.com.ng. 

After winning the award five times prior, most recently in 2022, Asisat is poised for another podium status in the forthcoming African Women Footballer Of the Year Award for 2023, with the UWCL title and a Primera División title up for grabs.